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Dieting & exercise

The Gransnet 10,000 steps a day club

(659 Posts)
CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 30-Jul-14 14:23:39

So, the NHS says: "Research shows that walking 10,000 steps a day will significantly improve your health. Putting one foot in front of the other can build stamina, burn excess calories and give you a healthier heart."

It's not the easiest thing to get started with, but - having been doing it since January - my own experience is that it definitely gets easier (indeed addictive. At the start it was "agh, 10,000 steps". Now I'm more "only 12,000 steps today?!")

One thing I have also found is that - as with dieting and our weigh in threads - having somewhere to talk to other people doing (or trying) the same thing, to encourage each other or to have a good old moan when it's all getting a bit much is a very good thing indeed.

So here inspired by this thread from TerriBull and for all those who are doing it, trying it, would like to give it a go, is the great Gransnet 10,000 steps club.

(I'm at 6,451 so far today btw!)

shysal Thu 14-Aug-14 08:40:44

Yesterday I had only reached 7,260 by evening, but I had done an exercise class in the morning. I decided to make up the shortfall by walking up and down the living room and hall whilst watching TV. However, the turning at each end soon made my head swim (I have inner ear problems), so only totalled 8150.

kiligran Thu 14-Aug-14 10:16:52

Haha I do the same! It depends on your stride but when I do 18holes which is approx 6 1/2 miles it's around 14,000 steps. Get a FitBit great little gadget.

newist Thu 14-Aug-14 17:09:27

My £1.59 pedometer has arrived at last, from Singapore, I ordered it on 24 July, it was free delivery. I didn't expect much grin. I have a damaged ankle so I cant walk far, I really only bought it to see how little I walk. Since 3pm I have done 422 steps, Well it is a start. smile

Bellasnana Thu 14-Aug-14 17:50:55

My DD2 is bringing me a FitBit when she visits from the States next month. I think I might live to regret asking for one grin

dustyangel Thu 14-Aug-14 18:09:11

I've been thinking that it might motivate me to walk more. Maybe when it's cooler.

chloe1984 Thu 14-Aug-14 18:15:59

Well my brand new pedometer that arrived this week has now stopped working......estimate around 8500 today so far. Back to using the one on my phone some days you just can't win!

TerriBull Fri 15-Aug-14 17:52:06

Feeling very smug today, just back from traipsing around London with friend, we walked from Waterloo to Pall Mall via a visit to the National Portrait Gallery and back again. A long break for lunch to rest our feet. Have clocked up a stonking 12,118 and still hours to go till bedtime so potential for even more steps around the house. Makes up for the woeful 6,000 ish of yesterday.

I do agree with others on the forum, it can be hard some days to hit the magic number and on occasions don't even get close to it.

chloe1984 Sat 16-Aug-14 08:52:49

Think my new pedometer is definitely malfunctioning as it has clocked up 12561 for me yesterday. I did spend most of the day browsing shops in Peterborough but am a little surprised as before I was struggling to achieve 10000. Have now tested it by pacing up and down the sitting room 100 times and it is recording correcting so will see what today brings!

Aka Sat 16-Aug-14 09:46:04

The day I spent browsing shops on Liverpool Choe I clocked up 15,000 so it could well be accurate.

Aka Sat 16-Aug-14 09:46:32

Shopping...the New Keep Fit!

TerriBull Sat 16-Aug-14 21:11:28

Long walk today 15,751 very pleased with that.

chloe1984 Sat 16-Aug-14 21:33:40

9194 for me , which I am pleased with , Sunday is always a difficult day for me to get my steps in so will see what happens.

Aka Sun 17-Aug-14 21:57:22

Almost 11,000 today. Daren't post what I walked the last few days but not impressive sad

shysal Mon 18-Aug-14 08:07:40

14,147 yesterday. Sundays are good for me as I always walk for 2 hours with a friend. We chatter for the whole time so hardly notice the creaky knees.

chloe1984 Mon 18-Aug-14 09:00:53

Only 5313 for me yesterday Sundays always a bit difficult . However off for a longish walk today so hoping for an improvement.

Versavisa Mon 18-Aug-14 09:15:11

Please may I join you? Just the motivation I need as I've got very lazy lately.

I've installed the Accupedo app, tested it and am raring to go. Wonder how just putting the washing out will count? I've got a mountain of it to do.

TerriBull Mon 18-Aug-14 09:34:31

Swings and roundabouts after my last two mammoth days, steps wise. Only clocked up a woeful 3,500ish yesterday, but was too busy to go walking. We are off to Norfolk today, and a long car journey doesn't give much opportunity for stepping it out today either so it will be another lowish day for me. However, hope to do a few bracing walks along the coast through the rest of the week to make up.

Welcome to the club Versavisa you will see from previous posts we aren't a very consistent lot. Unfortunately don't think the washing will count otherwise I would be a star performer!

chloe1984 Mon 18-Aug-14 20:08:49

I'm done for today 11061 which for me is excellent. See how I do tomorrow, but counting steps is making me more inclined to get up and make a cup of tea or anything that will increase my total. grin

upsydaisy Mon 18-Aug-14 22:03:28

Well I've kicked the walking into touch, it's too boring, my foot still hurts and it keeps raining all the time. Soooo today I cycled 19 miles on a day out in Blackpool, my favourite cycling place. Cleveleys to St Annes and back. Was a lovely afternoon, sunny and warm but very, very windy. Hard work cycling against a force 10 headwind.

Aka Mon 18-Aug-14 23:01:04

Yes welcome Versa and yes we are inconsistent, but trying. I've clocked up 9,200 today and that was shopping and browsing. I felt I just wanted to sit and read, but forced myself out of the house and clocked up a decent total after all.

Versavisa Tue 19-Aug-14 05:55:36

Well, I was hoping to start this off in style but after indigestion and backache attacked me I spent the rest of the day in a chair. I managed 2820 steps just doing the washing and other housework so I was disappointed not to get further. Ah well, today is another day, and I have got to do a couple of short walks. It will be interesting to see how they clock in.

Lovely to meet you all, and hope you had better days at meeting your targets.

shysal Tue 19-Aug-14 08:03:07

Better luck today Versa, hope you are feeling better. As a rough guide, 10 minutes clocks up around 1000 steps.

(Yesterday's total for me was 11,623)

chloe1984 Tue 19-Aug-14 08:14:36

No worries versa it's not a competition we all support each other , hope you have a better day today all round. As for the cycling upsydaisy all I can say is WOW.

TerriBull Tue 19-Aug-14 18:32:39

11,324 a coastal walk and sightseeing around Holt and Wells by Sea in Norfolk, made up for yesterday only reached 6,000ish due to travelling for several hours in car, but did stop in lovely Ely, Cambridgeshire for some sightseeing and made up a few steps there.

chloe1984 Tue 19-Aug-14 18:41:47

13491 for me today a personal best. My DH walked me all round the Abbey Gardens then on to a supermarket and back.... Do not intend to walk another step as am spent , will crawl up to bed. Will all change tomorrow as I go to my slimming club which involves driving there and eating cake afterwards.